Charles Pears Auction Prices and Value Guide
Charles Pears auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 209 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Charles Pears auction prices: quick answer
Charles Pears auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Charles Pears
- Source records
- 209
- Market update
- 2026-02-16
Artist context
About Charles Pears
Charles Pears (1873–1958) was a British painter, illustrator, graphic artist, and official war artist known especially for his marine and naval subjects. Born in Pontefract, Yorkshire, he established a prolific career spanning oil painting, watercolour, pen-and-ink drawing, and poster design. Pears is recognised for his dramatic depictions of warships, naval engagements, and coastal scenes produced during both World Wars, with many of these works now held in major public collections including the Tate. He also built a parallel reputation as a book illustrator and travel writer, authoring and illustrating works such as From the Thames to the Netherlands (1914). His art was entered into the painting competitions at the 1928 Amsterdam and 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Pears died in Truro, Cornwall, in 1958.
British marine paintingoil paintingwatercolourpen and inkgraphic art / printmakingmarine and naval sceneswarships and naval battlescoastal and harbour viewsfigure subjects
Common works and media
Pears produced oil paintings of naval battles, convoys, and warships; watercolour coastal and harbour views; pen-and-ink sketches of naval operations and theatrical subjects; travel and shipping posters; and full book illustrations. His marine subjects range from intimate coastal scenes such as Beachy Head, East Sussex, Moonlight to large-scale naval engagements and convoy paintings from both World Wars. He also illustrated and authored travel books and created graphic poster art for shipping lines and travel destinations.
Market and appraisal context
Charles Pears appears regularly at auction, with a substantial body of work spanning oils, watercolours, ink drawings, posters, and book illustrations. His large-scale naval battle scenes and wartime commissions tend to attract the strongest collector interest, while his travel posters and book illustrations represent a more accessible segment. Provenance linking a work to a documented wartime commission or an institutional collection generally adds measurable value. Collectors should verify signatures against both the full 'Charles Pears' and the abbreviated 'Chas Pears' forms the artist used throughout his career. Condition, medium, subject scale, and documented exhibition history are the primary factors influencing individual lot results.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Appraisal caveats
- With 209 lots recorded on Appraisily, Pears has a moderate auction footprint; individual results vary significantly by medium, size, and subject.
- Signed 'Chas Pears' examples should be cross-referenced with full-name attributions, as the artist used both forms.
- Wartime commissioned works may be subject to institutional export or retention restrictions in the United Kingdom.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- RKD — Netherlands Institute for Art History library authority
- Tate museum or university
- Wikidata library authority
- VIAF library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
Data basis
This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.
Artist value FAQ
How much is Charles Pears worth?
Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.
Can Appraisily value my Charles Pears artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.